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Thank you for your interest in joining Fort Worth Football Officials. You probably have some questions. On this page, we have attempted to answer some frequently asked questions and to provide information to prospective members. After reading this page, if you have any further questions about officiating football or joining FWFO, please contact a member of our Recruiting Committee via email at join@fwfo.org or our toll-free phone number 888-FWFO-660 (888-393-6660). Fort Worth Football Officials is a local chapter of Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO). No previous experience is necessary -- we will train you. New Football Officials Training Program Isn't it time to get out of the stands and into the game? You make the call! |
For our registration form and instructions in PDF format, click HERE
For our recruiting flyer in PDF format, click HERE
If you cannot open these documents, it may be because you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. To download it, click HERE.
What are some reasons to become a football official?
How do I become a football official?
What equipment will I need to get started? How much will it cost me?
Can I make any money at this? Is it expensive or time-consuming?
Are there any other fees or dues that I will have to pay?
Is there more than junior high and high school?
Answers
What are some reasons to become a football official?
There are many reasons to officiate. Here are a few:
o You love the game of football -- If you love football, officiating is the best way to stay involved in the game. The great thing about being an official is that you actually get to be on the field and not on the sidelines.
o A great way way to stay in shape -- Officiating provides a meaningful reason to stay in shape. As we get older, many adults find it more difficult to find the time to exercise. Officiating gives you the opportunity to get out of the house two or three times a week and participate in an enjoyable and rewarding physical activity.
o Be a positive role model -- Officiating provides a unique opportunity to positively influence young people. The official is a role model who is charged with enforcing the concepts of fair play and good sportsmanship.
o For the competitor in you -- Officiating appeals strongly to the competitive spirit that all of us possess. The successful official is a fierce competitor who enjoys the opportunity to work with teammates toward a common goal of officiating a good game.
o Enhances your personal development -- Officiating requires you to make instantaneous decisions, resolve conflicts, and deal with stress and pressure. It demands good communications skills. These skills also translate positively to your "day job" in the business world.
o Make lifelong friends -- Your fellow officials can become your friends for life. A tremendous bond is developed between officials as they work together for the common good and can only be fully explained after you've experienced it.
o Earn some extra spending money -- Officiating is not an extremely lucrative hobby; however, you will see a positive cash flow. Unlike other hobbies, the time spent at officiating will put some money in your pockets.
How do I become a football official?
First, you need to complete our registration form, which can be found above in the Links section. Return the completed form to us by mailing it to the address listed in the instructions, or by bringing it to a regularly scheduled chapter meeting. You will need to include a check or money order for a registration fee of $65, payable to Fort Worth Football Officials (or, FWFO).
The most current update of our training/meeting schedule and locations can be found by clicking HERE.
In general, our training/meeting schedule follows this outline:
o April/May - A short series of "spring training" sessions, designed to introduce you to rules and mechanics, is held. The classroom sessions are followed by a chance to get on the field during a local high school spring scrimmage.
o June - Weekly training begins for new members. Each Monday evening, veteran officials lead discussions on various topics related to football rules, exceptions, and officiating mechanics. These sessions will build the foundation of your officiating experience. You will want to try to attend as many as possible.
o Mid August - In preparation for the approaching season, local high school teams hold scrimmages. This will provide you an opportunity to work on the field alongside seasoned veterans. This is an incredibly valuable learning experience. You will want to work as many scrimmages as your schedule will allow.
o Late August/Early September - Football season begins. Meeting schedule changes from weekly to biweekly.
o October - Chapter elections are held.
o November - End of year awards banquet. Texas high school football playoffs begin
What equipment will I need to get started? How much will it cost me?
The basic equipment necessary to get started on the field includes:
o a striped official shirt (with Byron collar)
o black athletic or coach shorts
o black (or primarily black) athletic field shoes
o officials’ hat (black with white piping)
o whistle
o yellow penalty flag
o white bean bag
o white socks
o black belt
There are multiple local and online vendors from whom you can buy officiating equipment and supplies. Many of these suppliers offer new officials a “starter package”, which typically costs between $125 and $175. Typically, you will be able to earn this amount back with your first sub-varsity assignment or two. Also, several veteran FWFO officials donate some uniform items to the new members’ class each year. These are usually items that they have “outgrown” in the off-season, but that still may be useable for someone else. It is usually “first come, first served” with these items, but they can help you get started.
Can I make any money at this? Is it expensive or time-consuming?
Although nearly all officials will tell you that they officiate for the love of the game, pay is also a consideration. The football season can be demanding on time, depending on how many games you decide to work. Most school districts play two or three sub-varsity games on Tuesday and Thursday nights throughout the season. In fact, some of the larger school districts even play on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays in order to get all their games played. Many first-year officials run chains during varsity games on Friday nights, giving them a unique opportunity to watch and learn from veteran officials.
Almost all local schools pay by check through the mail. Sub-varsity and chain assignments typically pay between $20 and $50 each game, depending on the school districts. Varsity pay in Texas is determined by a scale set by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). Varsity pay is based on the gate receipts, typically starting at $35 up to well over $100 for big games.
Many officials are also engaged by area pee-wee football leagues to work their games. These games are typically played on Saturdays, and usually pay anywhere from $35 to $50 per game. If a pee-wee league plays in the area, chances are good that one or more of our members coordinates officials and/or officiates games for them.
FWFO covers many high school and junior high games in Tarrant, Dallas, Parker, Johnson, Hood, Erath, Palo Pinto, Denton, Collin, Jack, Cooke, Somervell, and Wise counties. You will "self-assign" your sub-varsity schedule through our website, so you can choose the most convenient locations from the available assignments.
Are there any other fees or dues that I will have to pay?
For first year officials, only the $65 registration fee is required. In subsequent years, every member pays dues to the state and local association each year. Currently, annual state dues are $50, and annual local dues are $65.
The Varsity Assignment Secretary (VAS) is the individual responsible for soliciting varsity schedules from schools. Together with the Varsity Assignment Committee, the VAS assigns officials to varsity games. There are also sub-varsity coordinators, who are responsible for entering the sub-varsity games into a central website. Then, each official can log into the website and self-assign their sub-varsity schedule.
Is there more than junior high and high school?
If your goal
is to work the NCAA National Championship game or the Super Bowl, this is the
place to start. All of the officials you see working at a collegiate or
professional level began just like this.
The state organization, Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO), maintains
a ranking system which classifies officials points earned through on-the-field
experience, as well as educational clinics. As you advance, you will begin
working varsity games on Friday nights. Obviously, you should not expect to be
assigned to the Trinity v. Cedar Hill game your first or second time out in
uniform. However, the more you put into your officiating career, the more you
might expect out of it.
Several members of Fort Worth Football Officials are college officials. We have
members working in junior college, NCAA Division I and II, and even in the NFL.
Getting to the college or NFL ranks is similar to getting on the board of
directors of a major corporation: There is a lot of competition for a few
openings. But, with time, experience and exposure, you never know where this
“hobby” might take you. Nevertheless, there is great camaraderie in working
high school football – the king of sports in Texas. Try it out and see if you
don’t get hooked.